Programmable matrix



6, 1966 J. HUMPHRIES ETAL 32 K PROGRAMMABLE MATRIX Filed Jan. 24. 1964 FIG.

FIG. 2 JOJS ZTRZSHRIES ROBERT B. PIERCE AGENT r 3,267,407 ice Patented August 16, 1966 We claim:

3,267,407 1. A selectively programmable matrix for providing a J hn H IIPI'I'ROG a liiii i li ii zi raii Alto Calif selected program wmprising ump es an r assignors to HewletbPackard conipany, P a1 a Alto, a dielectric layer having top and bottom surfaces,

5 .a first plurality of conductive paths attached to the top Calif" gg gs t i i gg 340,015 surface of said dielectric layer and extending in a 4 Clainis. ((51. 339-18) generally common direction therealong;

a second plurality of conductive paths attached to the T s i ve relates to a Programmable matrix for bottom surface of said dielectric layer and extending use in system programming. 10 in a generally common direction therealong for pass- Conventional Programmable matrices typically ing beneath said first plurality of conductive paths Prise tWo adjacent PlaneS of continuous Contact Strips in intersecting relationship thereto to form iterative oriented at right angles to each other; both the planes and Sections f h i Contact Strips heing insulated from each other- Conduct a plurality of contact receiving terminal pairs attached ing pins are inserted to interconnect contract strips in one to said dielectric layer, each of said terminal pairs Plane With eontaot Strips in the other Plane at Selected having one conductive terminal which is conductively torseetions for Providing a desired P The large connected to one of said first plurality of conductive size of the contact strips and the construction required to th d h i another conductive i l hi h P p y mount and insulate them make the end Product is laterally spaced a selected distance from said one bulky and unsuited for high density pac ag gterminal and conductively connected to one of said Accordingly it is the principal object of this invention to second l lit f cgnductive th d Provide a low Cost and highly reliable Programmable at least one conducting element having a pair of conmatrix which is greatly reduced in size. ductive contacts for frictionally and removably mat- In accordance With the illustrated embodiment of this ing a elected one of aid ontact receiving invention there is provided a circuit board including porterminal pairs to provide the selected program. lIiOIlS Of a matrix and conductive receiving terminals 2 A electively programmable matrix as in claim 1 therefor. Unidirectional shorting P forming other wherein for each of said contact receiving terminal pairs: portions of the matrix are frictionally mounted in selected id one d ti i l t d th h id ones Of the receiving terminals t0 provide a desired prodielectric layer and is conductively connected only to gram. said one of said first plurality of conductive paths;

Other and incidental objects of this inventon will be apd Parent from a reading of this Specification and an p said other conductive terminal extends through said o of the accompanying drawing in Which FIGURE 1 dielectric layer and is conductively connected only is a Pictorial View of a Programmable matrix according to said one of said second plurality of conductive to this invention and FIGURE 2 is a pictorial view of the paths, bottom side of the matrix b a f F RE 3. A selectively programmable matrix as in claim 2 Referring to FIGURE 1 and 2 there is Shown a rigid wherein said conducting element comprises: layer of dieieetrio material 10 having a plurality of an insulating casing supporting said contacts, each of jacent conductive paths 12 fixed to the top surface thereof. said contacts including an upper portion mounted Similarly a plurality of adjacent conductive paths 14 are 40 ithi said casing and a lower portion protruding oriented normal to the conductive paths 12 and fixed to the from aid casing for frictionally and removably matbottom surface of layer 10. Vertical rows of conductive ing ith id receiving t i l d receiving terminals 16 and 17 disposed in layer 10 circuit means for conducting at least one direction bealternately intersect paths 12 and 14 to form adjacent ing connected in said casing between the upper rows of terminal pairs 18. This part of the programmable portions of id t ct at as Well as the pp p input and output terIni- 4. A selectively programmable matrix as in claim 3 nals 20 located at one end of layer 10 is fo med by pri ted including means disposed adjacent to one surface of said circuit techniques. dielectric layer for indicating the required placement of Conducting Pings 22 forming another P of the matriX said conducting element to provided the selected program. include a pair of spring loaded contact pins 24 firmly embedded in an insulating hood 26 and disposed for frictional References Cited by the Examiner mating with the receiving terminal pairs 18 to interconnect UNITED STATES PATENTS selected points along conductive paths 12 and 14. A diode 112 793 3 1g71 Freeman 3 39 18 is mounted in the hood 26 intermediate the pair of contact 5 231,70 13 0 11 1 1 X pins 24 to provide a unidirectional conducting plug. 1,747,069 2/ 1930 Gould et a1. 339-19 X However, some other circuit element or a simple conduc- 2,568,535 9/ 1951 Ballard 339--17 X tor may be used to form a suitable conducting plug for any 2,941,053 6/1960 Braunstein et al. 399-18 X application. Conducting plugs 22 are inserted in selected I 69,5 7 1/ 1961 Gluck 339--17 terminal pairs 18 indicated by removable overlay 28 to 3,065,439 11/ 1962 Kranse 8 provide a desired program 3,165,731 7/1965 Gerlach et al 3l7112 X The program may be changed by simply replacing over- FOREIGN PATENTS lay 28 with another overlay mdlcatmg the desired pro- 70,102 10/1958 France.

gram and reinsertlng conducting plugs 22 1n the selected 123,170 2/1919 Great Britain.

terminal pairs 18. Any number of programs may be 344 668 3/1931 Great Britain indicated on overlays which require minimal storage space and successively programmed on the matrix of this inven- EDWARD ALLEN: Primary Examinertion which occupies a minimum of instrumentation space. PATRICK A. CLIFFORD, Examiner.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,267,407 August 16, 1966 John Humphries et a1.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 1, line 15, for "contract" read contact line 37, for "FIGURE 1 and 2" read FIGURES l and 2 column 2, line 43, for "at least" read in at least Signed and sealed this 1st day of August 1967.

(SEAL) Attest:

Edward M. Fletcher, Jr. EDWARD J. BRENNER Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

1. A SELECTIVELY PROGRAMMABLE MATRIX FOR PROVIDING A SELECTED PROGRAM, COMPRISING: A DIELECTRIC LAYER HAVING TOP AND BOTTOM SURFACES; A FIRST PLURALITY OF CONDUCTIVE PATHS ATTACHED TO THE TOP SURFACE OF SAID DIELECTRIC LAYER AND EXTENDING IN A GENERALLY COMMON DIRECTION THEREALONG; A SECOND PLURALITY OF CONDUCTIVE PATHS ATTACHED TO THE BOTTOM SURFACE OF SAID DIELECTRIC LAYER AND EXTENDING IN A GENERALLY COMMON DIRECTION THEREALONG FOR PASSING BENEATH SAID FIRST PLURALITY OF CONDUCTIVE PATHS IN INTERSECTING RELATIONSHIP THERETO TO FORM ITERATIVE SECTIONS OF THE MATRIX; A PLURALITY OF CONTACT RECEIVING TERMINAL PAIRS ATTACHED TO SAID DIELECTRIC LAYER, EACH OF SAID TERMINAL PAIRS HAVING ONE CONDUCTIVE TERMINAL WHICH IS CONDUCTIVELY CONNECTED TO ONE OF SAID FIRST PLURALITY OF CONDUCTIVE PATHS AND HAVING ANOTHER CONDUCTIVE TERMINAL WHICH IS LATERALLY SPACED A SELECTED DISTANCE FROM SAID ONE TERMINAL AND CONDUCTIVELY CONNECTED TO ONE OF SAID SECOND PLURALITY OF CONDUCTIVE PATHS; AND AT LEAST ONE CONDUCTING ELEMENT HAVING A PAIR OF CONDUCTIVE CONTACTS FOR FRICTIONALLY AND REMOVABLY MATING WITH A SELECTED ONE OF SAID CONTACT RECEIVING TERMINAL PAIRS TO PROVIDE THE SELECTED PROGRAM. 